Stamp-canceler



-(No Model.)

0. O. EGERTON.

. STAMP GANGBLER. No. 254,541. Patent dMarfZ1882.

wmmssas. J J J- v I I mvmmn 4 By W ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE.

' O. CALVERT EGERTON, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- FIFTH TO GEORGE F. GUNTHER, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

STAMP-CA NCELER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 254,541, dated March '7, 1882.

Application filed October 17,1881. (No model.) I I To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1,0.GALVERT EGERTON, of Baltimore city, State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stamp-Oancelers; and I hereby declare the same to .be fully, clearly,and exactly described as follows, reference being'had to the aoco'mpanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan of the device opened and ready to receive the stamp. Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view of the same closed and holding the stamp, and Fig. 3 is an elevation of the locking device.

My invention has for its object to provide a canceler for revenue stamps adapted to be permanently secured to the heads of kegs or vessels for containing liquors, and of such construction that the same cannot be tapped from the head bung-hole without destroying the stamp, which is required by Section 3342, Re-

vised Statutes, to be affixed thereon. This end I attain by securing to the head of the keg or barrel a plate having an aperture to register with the bung-hole, and provided with a second hinged plate arranged to close down upon the first, and in so doingto perforate and clamp the stamp and cover the bung. Access to the latter for tapping the keg can only be had by removing the upper plate, which, on being closed, is locked in such manner that it can only be removed by a lateral motion, whereby the stampis reduced to the minutest fragments, defying its fraudulent reuse. Under existing regulations the temptation to the retail dealer is very strong to remove the stamp before tapping the keg and return it to the brewer fora consideration. The danger of detection is slight, for the tapping, which is supposed to destroy the stamp, is done behind the bar and out of sight, and the keg is immediately placed in the ice-box. To prevent possibility of detection of the fraud, 2. once legitimately-camceled stamp may be placed over the bung and the spigot driven through it, as before, the uncanceled stamp being first removed, and the plainly visible while being firmly clamped between a series of ribs, and access to the bung is impossible without destroying the stamp. In the drawings, A is a plate firmly secured to the head a by bolts or screws, and itis provided with a series of curved ribs, 0, and pins with the ribs 0 of the plate A when the device is closed, and to firmly clamp the stamp. In so doing the pins I and e are forced through the paper, as shown in Fig. 2, in which S represents the stamp. This more perforation, however would amount to nothing as a cancelatiou, as the stamp could be ironed out to defy detection, and effected simply as a step preliminary to the cancellation proper.

In the flange of the plate A are formed slots 01 at, one of them having an ofi'set, d, and between them is an inclined lip, C. (See Fig. 2.)

The upper plate is provided with lugs J J, which register with the slots d when the plates are closed together, and which are of a height to fall under the flange f after passing through the slots. (See Fig. 3.) Between the lugs J is a sliding beveled lip, j, similar to an ordinary lock-latch, and like it impelled forward by a spring, is.

K is a pin, which is held by a spring-arm, E, and which passes through the offset (1 of the slot (1, or it may have a separate slot or hole.

D is an aperturein the plate H, through which any sharp-pointed instrument may be inserted to lift the pin K.

In operation the stamp is laid in place over the bung, the plate H being thrown back, as shown in Fig. 1. The plate is then pressed down upon the plate A, when the lugs J pass through the slots d and the lip O presses back the catch j until the latter passes under the lip, when it springs forward and locks the plate A against upward movement. Lateral movement to the right, Fig. 1, is impossible by reason of the bringing up of the lug J against the shoulder d, and movement to the left is prevented by the engagement of the pin K with the slot at. The stamp is meanwhile clamped between the ribs h and c, and is visible through the openings in the plate H.

Now, in order to get at the bung, the plate H must be moved out of the way. It cannot be lifted, because the latch jis under the catch 0 and cannot be reached, and motion of the plate to the right is obviously impossible. It may readily be moved to the lef't,however, upon lifting the pin Kclear of the flangef, which may be done by inserting any pointed instrument through the hole D and under the spring E. On moving, the plate to the left the lugs J and lip j travel under the flangef and hold the plate H down closely upon the plate A. It will be readily understood that by the time this motion has proceeded to the extent of uncovering the bu'ng the pins 0 and I and ribs h and 0 have played sad havoc with the stamp. Instead of securingthe lowerplate with screws, as shown, it may have a threaded boss onits under side to screw into the barrel-head, when the plate is prevented from unscrewing by one or more pins driven through it. (See, for such a device, my patent of August 21, 1877.)

What I claim is- 1. A revenue-stamp oanceler consisting essentially of two plates hinged and pivoted together, and provided with pins or projections for perforating the stamp, and a locking de- 0 vice which prevents any movement of the upper plate with reference to the lower, except laterally, whereby the stamp is torn and defaced, as set forth.

2. In a revenue stamp canceler, a plate or 35 disk for permanent attachment to the head of the cask, provided with an aperture to register with the head-bung, and with a series of pins and ribs, in combination with a second plate having a similar series of pins and ribs, 40 the said plates being hinged together and pivoted at the hinge, as set forth.

3. In combination with the permanent plate, the hinged plate pivoted at the hinge and a locking device for defeating other than lateral 5 movement of the upper plate, as set forth.

4. In combination with the stationary or permanent plate, the plate H, hinged and pivoted thereto, and having openings through which the stamp is visible, as set forth.

5. In combination with the plates hinged and. pivoted together, the registering ribs h 0, adapted to clamp the stamp and insure its perforation by the pins, as set forth.

(J. CALVERT EGERTON.

Witnesses R. D. WILLIAMS, W. A. BERTRAM. 

